Akufo-Addo gave Atiwa a bad name; vote against him – Omane Boamah

The Communications Minister has described flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as a detractor, accusing him of painting the Eastern Regional town of Atiwa in a bad light.

Dr Edward Omane Boamah says while the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) is working to bring development projects to the town, the NPP leader through his commentary is doing the opposite.

President John Mahama is putting measures in place to ensure that residents of Atiwa live in comfort, but the one who comes from the Eastern Region and has been a Member of Parliament (MP) has been disparaging the name of Atiwa, he said in Twi.

The Minister who is accompanying the President on his campaign tour made these remarks when he addressed NDC supporters in Atiwa Wednesday.

Dr Omane Boamah's reference to the August by-election which was to replace the former NPP MP for Atiwa Constituency, Kwasi Annoh-Ankamah who passed on in July 2010 brings back memories of one of the fiercely contested by-elections in the country.

Political activities leading to the election generated heated debate in the country especially considering the posture of the two leading political parties namely the NPP and the NDC. Both parties accused each other of employing thugs and mercenary tactics to intimidate its supporters.

Tension heightened when an SUV vehicle used by two NDC functionaries namely Baba Jamal who was then the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister and the National Women’s Organizer, Anita De-Souza drove through a crowd, injuring seven youth activists. The NPP described the incident as a deliberate attempt by the NDC to cower residents.

Political pundits had predicted an NDC victory would have proven that then President John Evans Atta Mills was popular in the country, but events turned out differently.

After the election, the NPP’s candidate, Kwasi Amoako-Atta polled 20,282 representing 75 percent of the valid votes cast while the NDC candidate, Emmanuel Atta Twum amassed 6,190 which was 22.89 percent of votes recorded.

The NPP flagbearer in the run up to the 2012 elections exalted party faithful to remain courageous and not be intimidated by the NDC whom he accused of adopting intimidating tactics against the NPP. He alluded to what he said was the courage shown by NPP youth at Atiwa in that by-election and said NPP youth must emulate that.

But Dr Omane Boamah said it was in bad taste for a statesman like Mr Akufo-Addo to make reference to the things the NPP did in Atiwa.

For an elder to say Atiwa ‘we showed them something little’ what at all does he mean by that?,’ he asked, charging the supporters to reject the NPP in the December 7 polls.

When there is war in Atiwa, Ghana children and women would become destitute and would have to go to neighbouring countries but they don’t speak English, he said to which the supporters said they want peace.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com